Women want review

Tavai Bale, left, and Mereoni Chung looks on as Osea Qio talks to the media at the Fiji Young Women's Forum at the Novotel Convention Centre last week.
Picture: ELIKI NUKUTABU

CONCERNS over the rising sexual exploitation of young girls and women have prompted the Fiji Young Women's Forum to demand for a review of the Fiji education system.

This is part of its declaration the forum will submit to political parties in the lead up to the general election.

The declaration, which was discussed at its second forum held in Suva over the weekend, also stated that regardless of disability, sexual orientation, identities and expressions, the state must provide safe counselling services by professionals in school systems to address all forms of bullying and violence at homes and in schools.

It also calls upon the state to fully endorse the current family life education policy without limitations and in compliance with the CRC which Fiji ratified in 1993 where the interest of the child is paramount.

"We demand that the education system be reviewed to include age appropriate comprehensive, compulsory sex education for students and educators at early childhood, primary, secondary and tertiary levels to prevent and highlight sexual exploitation," the declaration stated.

"Together with effective policing, educators and leaders have the ability to eradicate sexual exploitation.

"Schools are powerful social and cultural institutions in constructing gender identity as they have a major influence on girls and boys and how they see themselves and each other."

Meanwhile copies of the declaration have been given out to political parties and candidates by the forum's respective members.